Overview

German trains: Intercity (IC)

Intercity (IC) trains and Eurocity (EC) are trains which travel faster than regional trains in Germany. The IC and EC trains travel at a maximum speed of up to 200km/h and as such are categorized just after the Intercity Express (ICE), which are high speed trains. Intercity (IC) trains operate solely in within Germany while Eurocity (EC) trains continue their services to neighbouring countries. Both trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German national railway company. IC and EC have frequent services on core routes.

Travel by Rail Europe | Babu n. | 19 December 2016 "It was a fantastic ride from Frankfurt to Koblenz and from Koblenz to Luxembourg. It was very convenient and in time. The outside view was an enjoyment for our eyes. My wife was with me and she enjoyed a lot. Thanks to Rail Europe.
The only draw bag is the ticket booking. We booked our ticket through internet, but we have to collect the ticket from another place. It should be like airline tickets which is issued immediately.
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BERLIN TO DRESDEN BY RAIL | Christopher s. | 26 November 2016 "This was a very comfortable trip and on time both ends. We found the Berlin main station a bit intimidating as it was on four levels!
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great!! | Astrid m. | 15 October 2016 "everything went fine. On time, comfortable, good price!! I would travel again in your trains for sure.
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Excellent Cost-Value | Daniel m. | 10 October 2016 "I recently traveled from Berlin to Prague using the DB system and purchasing the ticket in advance vía Rail Europe. I got a really good rate and could print my ticket without any problem at all. The service was nice, the train departed and arrived on time. I would do do it again.
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Longest ride ever | Willem George f. | 21 September 2016 "I will rather pay more and fly than take this ride again. There is no scenery and I was counting the minutes of the around 6-hour ride. There was also no dining cart attached to the train, so we could not even go and sit and have a meal to make the time go past. We had 2nd class tickets as that is all that was available, but that was no problem. Reserved seats and comfortable enough seats. Just boring ride and we LOVE train ride. We will only do trains in the future when it is a scenic route.
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between average and good | Mordehay p. | 20 September 2016 "The lack of a reserved seat was a problem. the train was crowded and we were not comfortable.
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poor trip | Yochanan m. | 17 September 2016 "We payed good money ahead for the journey.
When we got to Leipzig station we were talled that the first class wagen is closed and we have to find a seat alone.
It doesn't fit your name.
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FAQ's

Common Questions, Simple Answers

Q. When do I need to check-in before boarding a Frecciarossa trains?

A. There are no check-in or customs procedures before boarding a Frecciarossa train. Though, ticket control and passport checks will occur on board Frecciarossa train.

Q. What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class on the TGV East (Paris to Stuttgart)?

A. First class on the TGV East offers ergonomic reclining seats with head and foot rests, non-smoking coaches, individual power outlets, reading light, ability to book a taxi for your arrival with staff on the train and a restaurant car offering a selection of food and beverages for purchase.

Second class on the TGV East offers ergonomic reclining seats with head and foot rests, non-smoking coaches and a restaurant car offering a selection of food and beverages for purchase.

Q. Can I buy my Swiss pass once in Switzerland?

A. No you can’t. You need to buy your Swiss pass before coming to Europe.

Q. What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class on the AVE (Madrid to Cordoba & Seville)?

A. The AVE offers 2 first class options they are called Club class and Preferente class.

Club class on the AVE offers access to the AVE lounges at the rail stations, large comfortable reclining seats, a selection of video and audio programs at your seat, and friendly staff serves you drinks and light snacks at your seat. This class of service offers tables for each seat.

Preferente class on the AVE offers access to the AVE lounges at the rail stations, large comfortable reclining seats, a selection of video and audio programs at your seat, and friendly staff serves you drinks and light snacks at your seat.

Tourist class (2nd Class) on the AVE offers generous legroom, a selection of video and audio programs at your seat and a bar-buffet car offering a selection of food and beverages for purchase.

Q. Can a passenger take a car on Eurostar?

A. No, Eurostar does not transport cars. You can transport your car on Le Shuttle, which carries cars through the Channel Tunnel. For reservations with Le Shuttle, please call 08705 35 35 35 or at www.eurotunnel.com.

Q. How to book 3 passengers that don't all want to share the same compartment?

A. There are two options: Option 1 You can select a Single compartment for 1 of the passengers and select a Double compartment for the 2 remaining passengers. Option 2 You can select 3 Single compartments, each will need to be requested on the website separately having 1 passenger on each reservation.

Q. How is a railpass day calculated?

A. A rail day lasts from midnight to midnight. You can take as many trains as you wish during this time.

Q. How much are prices on railpasses for children? How much are rail fares for children?

A. Rail passes for children are generally half the adult fare. Some passes do not offer a child pass. Child tickets are offered on most trains and vary by train type. They are generally about half of an adult ticket.

The Swiss Pass allows children under 16 to travel free when they are traveling with a parent who is holding a Swiss Pass. On BritRail passes, children 5 through 15 are free with each paying adult.

Q. Should tickets be purchased prior to your departure date?

A. Yes, we recommend that you would purchase tickets and make your seat reservations prior to your departure so you can avoid fully booked trains and disrupting your travel plans.

Q. Is it possible to travel from Cologne to Brussels by ICE and back by Thalys with a German Rail Pass Extension coupon?

A. You can only travel from Cologne to Brussels with ICE trains. The extension is not valid on the Thalys train. There are 4 daily ICE trains between Germany and Belgium.

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